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Linzer Tart

Cook Time:
1 hr
Prep Time:
1 hr
Servings:
8
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(31)

Chef notes

My Mom, MJ, has been making linzer tarts since I was a young boy and they have always been the sweetest memory and bite from my childhood. The sweet and buttery dough, with the delicious nutty taste and textures, paired with homemade raspberry jam, has always been my absolute favorite. I have carried on this tradition with my 8-year-old twin boys, Jude and Jax. They love these as either cookies for after-school snacks or, of course, as the nice large tart with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Technique tip: Be sure to set pre-heat your oven and make sure you have properly tested the oven temperature with an internal thermometer.

Ingredients

Raspberry Preserves
  • 2 cups (8 ounces) frozen raspberries, unsweetened
  • 1/4 cup granulated white sugar, or to taste
  • lemon juice
Linzer Tart
  • 1 cup whole almonds (can use blanched almonds)
  • 1/2 cup whole hazelnuts
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 14 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • powdered sugar, for dusting

Preparation

For the raspberry preserves:

Place the frozen unsweetened raspberries and the sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 to 20 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Do not let it burn.

Remove from heat and pour into a heatproof measuring cup. Add a drop or two of lemon juice. Cover and place in the refrigerator while you make the crust. (The raspberry preserves can be made several days in advance. Cover and store in the refrigerator.)

For the linzer tart:

1.

Preheat the oven to 350 F and position rack in the center of the oven. Place the almonds on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Then place the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until fragrant and the outer skins begin to flake and crack.

2.

Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. Once the almonds and hazelnuts have cooled, place in a food processor and process, along with 1/2 cup of flour, until finely ground. Add the remaining flour, sugar, lemon zest, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, salt and baking powder, and process until evenly combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like fine crumbs. Add the 2 egg yolks and vanilla extract, and pulse until the dough just begins to come together.

3.

Gather the dough into a ball and then divide it into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. Wrap the smaller ball of dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about an hour, or until firm enough to roll. Take the larger ball of dough and press it onto the bottom and up the sides of a buttered 9- to 10-inch tart pan or springform pan. If using a springform pan press the dough about 1 inch up the sides of the pan.

4.

Take the cooled raspberry preserves and spread them over the bottom of the crust. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. Once the smaller ball of dough is firm, remove from the fridge and roll it between two sheets of wax paper into a circle that is about 12 inches in diameter.

5.

Using a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, cut the pastry into 1-inch strips. Place the strips of pastry on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. When strips are firm, using an offset spatula, gently transfer the strips to the tart pan.

6.

Lay half the strips, evenly spaced, across the tart and then turn the pan a quarter turn and lay the remaining strips across the first strips. If desired, weave the top strips over and under the bottom strips (do not worry if the pastry tears, just press it back together as best as you can). Trim the edges of the strips to fit the tart pan.

7.

If you have any leftover scraps of dough, roll them into a long rope. Don't worry if the rope breaks. Just take the pieces of rope and place them around the outer edge of the tart where the ends of the lattice strips meet the bottom crust. Using a fork or your fingers, press the rope into the edges of the bottom crust to seal the edges.

8.

Bake the tart in a preheated 350 F oven for about 30 to 35 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and set. Let the tart cool on a wire rack before unmolding. Although you can serve this tart the same day as it is baked, I like to cover and store it overnight before serving. It is delicious served warm with a dollop of whipped cream or crème fraiche. Dust the top of the tart with powdered sugar. This tart will keep for a few days at room temperature or in the refrigerator for about a week. It can also be frozen.

To make a cookie version of the tart: 

1. Working with one dough disc at a time, roll dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Use a 2½-inch round cookie cutter to cut as many circles from the dough as you can. Knead any leftover scraps of dough into a ball and roll it out again into a 1/8-inch-thick sheet. Cut out more circles; you should have about 12 circles.

2.

Arrange dough circles on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch of space between them. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator while you repeat Step 4 with remaining dough disc.

3.

Place the second batch of circles on the baking sheet and cut out the center those 12 circles with a 1/2-inch round cookie cutter.

4.

Bake cookies in the preheated oven until light brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes.

5.

Spread a thin coating of jam onto the bottom sides of the fully round cookies. Place a cut-out cookie on top of each, pressing together to form a sandwich. Place back on the wire rack and repeat to form 11 more cookies.

6.

Sift powdered sugar over the cookies, then spoon a dab of jam into the cut-out part of each cookie.